TheVerge

This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Amazon is moving ahead with plans to replace Android with its custom-built Vega operating system on Fire TV devices: The new Linux-based system will launch on TV streaming hardware before … Read more

What is this, a D-pad for iPods? Have you ever thought your favorite mobile games would be improved by awkward ergonomics, a dreadful D-pad, and a couple of camera lenses blocking a third of the screen? Then oh boy, does Xiaomi have the phone for you. Today it announced its flagship 17 series phones in … Read more

A new report from Senate Democrats claims members of Elon Musk’s DOGE team have access to the Social Security Numbers of all Americans in a cloud server lacking verified security measures, despite an internal assessment of potential “catastrophic” risk. The report, released by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), cites numerous disclosures from whistleblowers, including one who … Read more

Have you heard? EV sales are expected to dip significantly in the coming weeks as the federal tax credit expires, and automakers are responding by canceling models, delaying factory plans, and boosting hybrids as a short-term solution. The latest model to get the axe is the Acura ZDX, an electric crossover that had both Honda … Read more

The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max both feature second screens on the rear. A critic might accuse Xiaomi of copying Apple a little too closely in its launch event for the Xiaomi 17 phones, while a fan might say the company is trying to beat Apple at its own game. Either way, it’s pretty … Read more

Hey there, and welcome to Decoder! I’m Hayden Field, senior AI repoter at The Verge — and your Thursday episode guest host. I have another couple of shows for you while Nilay is out on parental leave, and we’re going to be spending more time diving into some of the unforeseen consequences of the generative AI … Read more

Cowboy is in talks to be acquired by ReBirth Group Holding, weeks after the struggling e-bike manufacturer was bailed out by the Paris-based investor. The news was first reported by French newspaper Le Figaro, and subsquently confirmed by one of Cowboy’s co-founders. “We can confirm that discussions with ReBirth are progressing very positively, and we … Read more

Alongside an annual fee increase, American Express also recently announced an update to its mobile app. | Image: American Express Following a significant price bump in 2021 from $550 to $695, American Express once again increased the annual fee for its Platinum card to $895 last week, making it one of the most expensive credit … Read more

Windows ML is available on Windows 11 24H2 or newer. Microsoft’s Windows ML platform is now generally available for production use, making it easier for developers to add AI to their Windows apps. In its announcement blog, Microsoft says Windows ML is supported on all devices running Windows 11 24H2 or newer, and provides a … Read more

Things have been weird for PlayStation of late. After years spent cultivating an image akin to the HBO of video games through single-player franchises like The Last of Us, God of War, and Horizon Zero Dawn, the company shifted focus, jumping on the live-service bandwagon to mostly disastrous effect. Aside from a few standouts and … Read more

Things haven’t started out so well for FBC: Firebreak, Remedy’s multiplayer spinoff of its Control universe. When it launched in June there were complaints about repetitive gameplay and a lack of Remedy-style narrative flourishes. In a launch week update, the studio admitted that “Several things have gone well. Clearly, not everything has.” Now Remedy has … Read more

Proton has launched a major update for its encrypted Mail app, which not only adds a refreshed layout but also includes a new offline mode. That means you’ll now have full access to your inbox when you don’t have an internet connection, giving you the ability to read, write, and compose emails. Your messages will … Read more

As AI music generators like Suno and Udio make it easy to churn out passable music, streamers like Spotify are getting flooded with AI-generated content, leaving audiences and artists alike to wonder what is “real” music anymore. On Thursday, Spotify announced new policies that attempt to tamp down on three problems the platform has with … Read more

Windows 10 end of support is approaching in less than three weeks, and Microsoft has now been forced to make its extended security updates truly free, without a catch, in certain markets in Europe. When Windows 10 goes end of support on October 14th, some European customers will no longer be required to turn on … Read more

The OnePlus 15 no longer has a Hasselblad logo on its camera. OnePlus has revealed a few details about its next flagship phone at a Qualcomm event in China: it’ll be called the OnePlus 15, and it will come with Qualcomm’s freshly announced Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a 165Hz refresh rate display. … Read more

Uber is launching a new discount program aimed at fighting against rising produce prices. The company is launching a new feature called “Fresh Days,” in which customers will receive discounts of up to 50 percent on “local fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy.” The exact day and discount amount will vary from market to market, but … Read more

Apple says it’s having to delay bringing some product features to Europe because it’s struggling to make them compliant with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). In a statement published on Wednesday, Apple said that DMA rules have created “more complexity and more risks for our EU users,” blaming the obligation to open Apple features … Read more

Playground Games is launching the next instalment in the Forza Horizon franchise next year, and this time it’s set in Japan. While I was expecting Forza Horizon 6 to be announced during the Xbox Tokyo Game Show stream later today, the official Forza Horizon Instagram account revealed the news early in a teaser trailer this … Read more

The CMF Phone 2 Pro was the company’s most recent cheap smartphone. Nothing has announced that it plans to spin off its sub-brand CMF, which focuses on cheaper smartphones, earbuds, and wearables, into a standalone subsidiary based in India. Founder and CEO Carl Pei announced the move on X, claiming he plans to build CMF … Read more

The Magic 8 Pro has a dedicated AI button along the side. Honor has revealed the design of its upcoming Magic 8 Pro flagship in a selection of images shared exclusively with The Verge, confirming that the phone will include a dedicated AI button. When the Magic 8 series launches in China next month, the … Read more

“The Supreme Court is Google’s last hope to avoid an Epic reckoning in October,” I wrote last week. Google apparently agrees. Today, it’s finally elevated its Epic v. Google case, the one that might fracture its control over the entire Android app ecosystem, to the Supreme Court level. Google has now confirmed it will appeal … Read more

Nintendo is releasing a new Fire Emblem mobile game, Fire Emblem Shadows. The company says the game is a spinoff of the series and “introduces a new style of battles featuring role-playing and social deduction.” The company’s description of the game indicates that Shadows will have Among Us-like elements of treachery:  One of the three … Read more

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is currently down to $649, matching its lowest price to date. If the past is any indication, Prime Big Deal Days — Amazon’s upcoming fall Prime Day event — should deliver a wave of deals on Apple devices, letting you save on everything from AirPods and AirTags to the latest … Read more

Google’s Sameer Samat explains what’s next for Android and ChromeOS. One of the biggest stories out of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit in Maui isn’t just about Qualcomm — it’s how Google is finally merging Android and ChromeOS to create a new operating system for computers. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon revealed that it’s finally happening, and now, … Read more

Podcaster Theo Von and The Pokémon Company probably don’t have a lot in common. But one thing they can apparently agree on is that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should probably stop using them to promote deportation campaigns.  The DHS posted a montage of ICE raids to X on Monday accompanied by the original … Read more

Better performance, bigger battery savings. Qualcomm has formally unveiled its latest flagship SoC, destined for Android flagships in the very near future: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The name was revealed by way of a blog post last week, and if it seems like the company skipped forward a generation or two, that’s kind … Read more

Sony has announced new Pulse Elevate wireless speakers that you can use with your PS5, PC, Mac, and even a PlayStation Portal or smartphone. The company promises that they offer “lifelike desktop audio,” a built-in mic for voice chat, and support Sony’s PlayStation Link ultra-low latency technology. The speakers have a built-in rechargeable battery, so … Read more

An image of Wolverine’s claws from Sony’s PS5 Wolverine game. It’s been a long wait, but we finally got to see Insomniac’s take on Wolverine in action. The studio released a new trailer showing some of the surprisingly bloody superhero gameplay at Sony’s most-recent State of Play showcase. There’s no date yet, but the game … Read more

Saros, the next game from Returnal developer Housemarque, launches for PS5 on March 20th, 2026, Sony announced during its September State of Play presentation on Wednesday. Based on a gameplay trailer shown during the event, it looks like Saros takes a lot of cues from Returnal, with futuristic weapons, lots of bullets and rings filling … Read more